The Guilded Age

Central Oregon Brewer's Guild and the inaugural craft beer week.

If you made it through Central Oregon’s inaugural craft beer week without running across a tasting or some other beer-related promotion, then you probably stand to lose your beer connoisseur credentials.

In fact, it was hard to darken the door of any self-respecting taproom without running into a meet-your-brewer event or a food pairing special. In all, there were more than a dozen craft beer related happenings, all of which were well-received, according to Garrett Wales, president of the newly minted Central Oregon Brewer’s Guild and partner in Bend’s meteoric 10 Barrel Brewing.

“It was great. What it did as well as anything was really lay the groundwork for next year because that was put together on four week’s notice,” Wales said of the almost spontaneous craft brew celebration.

The local Brewer’s Guild is interested in more than just promotion. It also has an eye on public policy. Wales credits the young association with helping to convince the city to temporarily table its proposed wastewater fee increases that would have hit brewers this summer. Wales said the group will also be monitoring Salem for things like a beer tax increase.

“We’ll be keeping an eye on any legislation related to the food and beverage distribution system,” Wales said. (EF)

A few celebrities that have made their way through the area.

A conservative corporate-backed organization that connects lawmakers with industry insiders to craft ready made laws could lose its non-profit status that allows it to wine and dine lawmakers like Central Oregon’s Gene Whisnant.